Report: Vontaze Burfict, Bengals talking extension

Posted by Josh Alper on April 22, 2014, 10:40 AM EDT

Linebacker Vontaze Burfict cost himself a lot of money in 2012 by frequently finding trouble on and off the field at Arizona State and then turning in a terrible combine performance that resulted in him going undrafted before signing with the Bengals as an undrafted free agent.

Burfict has turned things around since then, however. He’s turned in two strong seasons as a starter on the Bengals defense and that’s put him in position to start making some of the money he could have made had he been drafted as early as some expected he would be heading into the 2012 season.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that Burfict and the Bengals have started talking about an extension. Burfict is signed for $570,000 this year and would become a restricted free agent if they don’t reach agreement on a deal.

Assuming the Bengals would tender Burfict at a high level in order to limit the risk of losing him to another team, that salary give the two sides a framework to use for talks about a deal that eliminates the possibility of Burfict leaving altogether.

I will stand by my pre-draft claim that he was the most underrated player of that draft. When is a football team going to find a paid scout that can actually do the job better than I can without any money?

Smartest move the Bengals have made thus far this off-season. This dude is a stud and is only going to get better. He has proven time and time again he will be the leader of this defense, if he isn’t already. No reason the Bengals should wait to lock him up. Pay the man!

Haha Burfict is better and you know it. Otherwise you wouldn’t have pulled the tried and true “We got championships, you don’t” crap. Everytime a Bengals fan points out how the Bengals are better than the Steelers right now it always back to the rings. Now that’s what I call a yawner. Fact: 2013Bengals> 2013 Steelers Deal with it.

natijim235 says:Apr 22, 2014 9:21 PM

Bengals need to lock Burfict up so he doesn’t walk – he’s a stud – hope he keeps his head on straight and doesn’t let the money change his efforts on or off the field